System and method for providing collection and analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care

ABSTRACT

A system and method for providing collection and analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care. One or more physiological measures relating to individual patient information recorded on a substantially continuous basis are collected. Each of the one or more physiological measures collected at substantially the same time as a set of physiological measures are received. The physiological measures set are stored into a patient care record for an individual patient into a database. One or more of the physiological measures in the patient care record are retrieved from the database. The retrieved physiological measures are analyzed relative to one or more other physiological measures to determine a patient status indicator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/324,894, filed Jun. 3, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,312,378,issued Nov. 6, 2001 the priority date of which is claimed and thedisclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to automated data collectionand analysis, and, in particular, to a system and method for providingcollection and analysis of patient information for use in automatedpatient care.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Implantable pulse generators (IPGs) are medical devices commonly used totreat irregular heartbeats, known as arrhythmias. There are two basictypes. Cardiac pacemakers are used to manage bradycardia, an abnormallyslow or irregular heartbeat. Left untreated, bradycardia can causesymptoms such as fatigue, dizziness, and fainting. Implantablecardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are used to treat tachycardia, heartrhythms that are abnormally fast and life threatening. Tachycardia canresult in sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Pacemakers and ICDs are increasingly being equipped with an on-board,volatile memory in which telemetered signals can be stored for laterretrieval and analysis. Typically, the telemetered signals providepatient device information regarding atrial electrical activity,ventricular electrical activity, time of day, activity level, cardiacoutput, oxygen level, cardiovascular pressure measures, pulmonarymeasures, and any interventions made on a per heartbeat or binnedaverage basis. In addition, a growing class of cardiac medical devices,including implantable heart failure monitors, implantable eventmonitors, cardiovascular monitors, and therapy devices, are being usedto provide similar stored device information. These devices are able tostore approximately thirty minutes of per heartbeat data. Telemeteredsignals are also stored in a broader class of monitors and therapeuticdevices for other areas of medicine, including metabolism,endocrinology, hematology, neurology, muscular, gastrointestinal,genitalurology, ocular, auditory, and the like.

Presently, stored device information is retrieved using a proprietaryinterrogator or programmer, often during a clinic visit or following adevice event. The volume of data retrieved from a single deviceinterrogation “snapshot” can be large and proper interpretation andanalysis can require significant physician time and detailedsubspecialty knowledge, particularly by cardiologists and cardiacelectrophysiologists. The sequential logging and analysis of regularlyscheduled interrogations can create an opportunity for recognizingsubtle and incremental changes in patient condition otherwiseundetectable by inspection of a single “snapshot.” However, presentapproaches to data interpretation and understanding and practicallimitations on time and physician availability make such analysisimpracticable.

A prior art system for collecting and analyzing pacemaker and ICDtelemetered signals in a clinical or office setting is the Model 9790Programmer, manufactured by Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minn. Thisprogrammer can be used to retrieve data, such as patientelectrocardiogram and any measured physiological conditions, collectedby the IPG for recordation, display and printing. The retrieved data isdisplayed in chronological order and analyzed by a physician. Comparableprior art systems are available from other IPG manufacturers, such asthe Model 2901 Programmer Recorder Monitor, manufactured by GuidantCorporation, Indianapolis, Ind., which includes a removable floppydiskette mechanism for patient data storage. These prior art systemslack remote communications facilities and must be operated with thepatient present. These systems present a limited analysis of thecollected data based on a single device interrogation and lack thecapability to recognize trends in the data spanning multiple episodesover time or relative to a disease specific peer group.

A prior art system for locating and communicating with a remote medicaldevice implanted in an ambulatory patient is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,752,976 ('976). The implanted device includes a telemetry transceiverfor communicating data and operating instructions between the implanteddevice and an external patient communications device. The communicationsdevice includes a communication link to a remote medical supportnetwork, a global positioning satellite receiver, and a patientactivated link for permitting patient initiated communication with themedical support network.

Related prior art systems for remotely communicating with and receivingtelemetered signals from a medical device are disclosed in U.S. Pat.Nos. 5,113,869 ('869) and 5,336,245 ('245). In the '869 patent, animplanted AECG monitor can be automatically interrogated at preset timesof day to telemeter out accumulated data to a telephonic communicator ora full disclosure recorder. The communicator can be automaticallytriggered to establish a telephonic communication link and transmit theaccumulated data to an office or clinic through a modem. In the '245patent, telemetered data is downloaded to a larger capacity, externaldata recorder and is forwarded to a clinic using an auto-dialer and faxmodem operating in a personal computer-based programmer/interrogator.However, the '976 telemetry transceiver, '869 communicator, and '245programmer/interrogator are limited to facilitating communication andtransferal of downloaded patient data and do not include an ability toautomatically track, recognize, and analyze trends in the data itself.

Thus, there is a need for a system and method for providing continuousretrieval, transferal, and automated analysis of retrieved implantablemedical device information, such as telemetered signals, retrieved ingeneral from a broad class of implantable medical devices and, inparticular, from IPGs and cardiovascular monitors. Preferably, theautomated analysis would include recognizing a trend and determiningwhether medical intervention is necessary.

There is a further need for a system and method that would allowconsideration of sets of collected measures, both actual and derived,from multiple device interrogations. These collected measures sets couldthen be compared and analyzed against short and long term periods ofobservation.

There is a further need for a system and method that would enable themeasures sets for an individual patient to be self-referenced andcross-referenced to similar or dissimilar patients and to the generalpatient population. Preferably, the historical collected measures setsof an individual patient could be compared and analyzed against those ofother patients in general or of a disease specific peer group inparticular.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a system and method for providingcollection and analysis of patient information for use in automatedpatient care. The patient device information relates to individualmeasures recorded by and retrieved from implantable medical devices,such as IPGs and monitors. The patient device information is received ona regular, e.g., daily, basis as sets of collected measures which arestored along with other patient records in a database. The informationcan be analyzed in an automated fashion and feedback provided to thepatient at any time and in any location.

An embodiment of the present invention is a providing collection andanalysis of patient information for use in automated patient care. Oneor more physiological measures relating to individual patientinformation recorded on a substantially continuous basis are collected.Each of the one or more physiological measures collected atsubstantially the same time as a set of physiological measures arereceived. The physiological measures set are stored into a patient carerecord for an individual patient into a database. One or more of thephysiological measures in the patient care record are retrieved from thedatabase. The retrieved physiological measures are analyzed relative toone or more other physiological measures to determine a patient statusindicator.

A further embodiment of the present invention is a system and method foranalyzing a patient status for use in automated patient care. A set ofone or more physiological measures relating to individual patientinformation recorded on a substantially continuous basis are received.The physiological measures set are stored into a patient care record foran individual patient into a database. One or more of the physiologicalmeasures in the physiological measures set are analyzed relative to oneor more other physiological measures to determine a patient statusindicator.

The present invention facilitates the gathering, storage, and analysisof critical patient information obtained on a routine basis and analyzedin an automated manner. Thus, the burden on physicians and trainedpersonnel to evaluate the volumes of information is significantlyminimized while the benefits to patients are greatly enhanced.

Still other embodiments of the present invention will become readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, wherein is described embodiments of the invention by way ofillustrating the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention.As will be realized, the invention is capable of other and differentembodiments and its several details are capable of modifications invarious obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and thescope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detaileddescription are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not asrestrictive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system for providing collection andanalysis of patient information for use in automated patient care inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware components of the serversystem of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software modules of the serversystem of the system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the analysis module of the serversystem of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a database schema showing, by way of example, the organizationof a cardiac patient care record stored in the database of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a record view showing, by way of example, a set of partialcardiac patient care records stored in the database of the system ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method for providing collection andanalysis of patient information for use in automated patient care inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a routine for analyzing collectedmeasures sets for use in the method of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a routine for comparing siblingcollected measures sets for use in the routine of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are flow diagrams showing a routine for comparing peercollected measures sets for use in the routine of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a routine for providing feedback foruse in the method of FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a system 10 for providing collectionand analysis of patient information for use in automated patient care inaccordance with the present invention. A patient 11 is a recipient of animplantable medical device 12, such as, by way of example, an IPG or aheart failure or event monitor, with a set of leads extending into hisor her heart. The implantable medical device 12 includes circuitry forrecording into a short-term, volatile memory telemetered signals, whichare stored as a set of collected measures for later retrieval.

For an exemplary cardiac implantable medical device, the telemeteredsignals non-exclusively present patient information relating to: atrialelectrical activity, ventricular electrical activity, time of day,activity level, cardiac output, oxygen level, cardiovascular pressuremeasures, the number and types of interventions made, and the relativesuccess of any interventions made on a per heartbeat or binned averagebasis, plus the status of the batteries and programmed settings.Examples of pacemakers suitable for use in the present invention includethe Discovery line of pacemakers, manufactured by Guidant Corporation,Indianapolis, IN. Examples of ICDs suitable for use in the presentinvention include the Ventak line of ICDs, also manufactured by GuidantCorporation, Indianapolis, Ind.

In the described embodiment, the patient 11 has a cardiac implantablemedical device. However, a wide range of related implantable medicaldevices are used in other areas of medicine and a growing number ofthese devices are also capable of measuring and recording patientinformation for later retrieval. These implantable medical devicesinclude monitoring and therapeutic devices for use in metabolism,endocrinology, hematology, neurology, muscularology,gastro-intestinalogy, genital-urology, ocular, auditory, and similarmedical subspecialties. One skilled in the art would readily recognizethe applicability of the present invention to these related implantablemedical devices.

On a regular basis, the telemetered signals stored in the implantablemedical device 12 are retrieved. By way of example, a programmer 14 canbe used to retrieve the telemetered signals. However, any form ofprogrammer, interrogator, recorder, monitor, or telemetered signalstransceiver suitable for communicating with an implantable medicaldevice 12 could be used, as is known in the art. In addition, a personalcomputer or digital data processor could be interfaced to theimplantable medical device 12, either directly or via a telemeteredsignals transceiver configured to communicate with the implantablemedical device 12.

Using the programmer 14, a magnetized reed switch (not shown) within theimplantable medical device 12 closes in response to the placement of awand 13 over the location of the implantable medical device 12. Theprogrammer 14 communicates with the implantable medical device 12 via RFsignals exchanged through the wand 14. Programming or interrogatinginstructions are sent to the implantable medical device 12 and thestored telemetered signals are downloaded into the programmer 14. Oncedownloaded, the telemetered signals are sent via an internetwork 15,such as the Internet, to a server system 16 which periodically receivesand stores the telemetered signals in a database 17, as furtherdescribed below with reference to FIG. 2.

An example of a programmer 14 suitable for use in the present inventionis the Model 2901 Programmer Recorder Monitor, manufactured by GuidantCorporation, Indianapolis, Ind., which includes the capability to storeretrieved telemetered signals on a proprietary removable floppydiskette. The telemetered signals could later be electronicallytransferred using a personal computer or similar processing device tothe internetwork 15, as is known in the art.

Other alternate telemetered signals transfer means could also beemployed. For instance, the stored telemetered signals could beretrieved from the implantable medical device 12 and electronicallytransferred to the internetwork 15 using the combination of a remoteexternal programmer and analyzer and a remote telephonic communicator,such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,113,869, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference. Similarly, the stored telemeteredsignals could be retrieved and remotely downloaded to the server system16 using a world-wide patient location and data telemetry system, suchas described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,976, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

The received telemetered signals are analyzed by the server system 16,which generates a patient status indicator. The feedback is thenprovided back to the patient 11 through a variety of means. By way ofexample, the feedback can be sent as an electronic mail messagegenerated automatically by the server system 16 for transmission overthe internetwork 15. The electronic mail message is received by personalcomputer 18 (PC) situated for local access by the patient 11.Alternatively, the feedback can be sent through a telephone interfacedevice 19 as an automated voice mail message to a telephone 21 or as anautomated facsimile message to a facsimile machine 22, both alsosituated for local access by the patient 11. In addition to a personalcomputer 18, telephone 21, and facsimile machine 22, feedback could besent to other related devices, including a network computer, wirelesscomputer, personal data assistant, television, or digital dataprocessor. Preferably, the feedback is provided in a tiered fashion, asfurther described below with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware components of the serversystem 16 of the system 10 of FIG. 1. The server system 16 consists ofthree individual servers: network server 31, database server 34, andapplication server 35. These servers are interconnected via anintranetwork 33. In the described embodiment, the functionality of theserver system 16 is distributed among these three servers for efficiencyand processing speed, although the functionality could also be performedby a single server or cluster of servers. The network server 31 is theprimary interface of the server system 16 onto the internetwork 15. Thenetwork server 31 periodically receives the collected telemeteredsignals sent by remote implantable medical devices over the internetwork15. The network server 31 is interfaced to the internetwork 15 through arouter 32. To ensure reliable data exchange, the network server 31implements a TCP/IP protocol stack, although other forms of networkprotocol stacks are suitable.

The database server 34 organizes the patient care records in thedatabase 17 and provides storage of and access to information held inthose records. A high volume of data in the form of collected measuressets from individual patients is received. The database server 34 freesthe network server 31 from having to categorize and store the individualcollected measures sets in the appropriate patient care record.

The application server 35 operates management applications and performsdata analysis of the patient care records, as further described belowwith reference to FIG. 3. The application server 35 communicatesfeedback to the individual patients either through electronic mail sentback over the internetwork 15 via the network server 31 or as automatedvoice mail or facsimile messages through the telephone interface device19.

The server system 16 also includes a plurality of individualworkstations 36 (WS) interconnected to the intranetwork 33, some ofwhich can include peripheral devices, such as a printer 37. Theworkstations 36 are for use by the data management and programmingstaff, nursing staff, office staff, and other consultants and authorizedpersonnel.

The database 17 consists of a high-capacity storage medium configured tostore individual patient care records and related health careinformation. Preferably, the database 17 is configured as a set ofhigh-speed, high capacity hard drives, such as organized into aRedundant Array of Inexpensive Disks (RAID) volume. However, any form ofvolatile storage, non-volatile storage, removable storage, fixedstorage, random access storage, sequential access storage, permanentstorage, erasable storage, and the like would be equally suitable. Theorganization of the database 17 is further described below withreference to FIG. 3.

The individual servers and workstations are general purpose, programmeddigital computing devices consisting of a central processing unit (CPU),random access memory (RAM), non-volatile secondary storage, such as ahard drive or CD ROM drive, network interfaces, and peripheral devices,including user interfacing means, such as a keyboard and display.Program code, including software programs, and data are loaded into theRAM for execution and processing by the CPU and results are generatedfor display, output, transmittal, or storage. In the describedembodiment, the individual servers are Intel Pentium-based serversystems, such as available from Dell Computers, Austin, Tex., or CompaqComputers, Houston, Tex. Each system is preferably equipped with 128 MBRAM, 100 GB hard drive capacity, data backup facilities, and relatedhardware for interconnection to the intranetwork 33 and internetwork 15.In addition, the workstations 36 are also Intel Pentium-based personalcomputer or workstation systems, also available from Dell Computers,Austin, Tex., or Compaq Computers, Houston, Tex. Each workstation ispreferably equipped with 64 MB RAM, 10 GB hard drive capacity, andrelated hardware for interconnection to the intranetwork 33. Other typesof server and workstation systems, including personal computers,minicomputers, mainframe computers, supercomputers, parallel computers,workstations, digital data processors and the like would be equallysuitable, as is known in the art.

The telemetered signals are communicated over an internetwork 15, suchas the Internet. However, any type of electronic communications linkcould be used, including an intranetwork link, serial link, datatelephone link, satellite link, radio-frequency link, infrared link,fiber optic link, coaxial cable link, television link, and the like, asis known in the art. Also, the network server 31 is interfaced to theinternetwork 15 using a T-1 network router 32, such as manufactured byCisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif. However, any type of interfacingdevice suitable for interconnecting a server to a network could be used,including a data modem, cable modem, network interface, serialconnection, data port, hub, frame relay, digital PBX, and the like, asis known in the art.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the software modules of the serversystem 16 of the system 10 of FIG. 1. Each module is a computer programwritten as source code in a conventional programming language, such asthe C or Java programming languages, and is presented for execution bythe CPU as object or byte code, as is known in the arts. The variousimplementations of the source code and object and byte codes can be heldon a computer-readable storage medium or embodied on a transmissionmedium in a carrier wave. There are three basic software modules, whichfunctionally define the primary operations performed by the serversystem 16: database module 51, analysis module 53, and feedback module55. In the described embodiment, these modules are executed in adistributed computing environment, although a single server or a clusterof servers could also perform the functionality of the modules. Themodule functions are further described below in more detail beginningwith reference to FIG. 7.

For each patient being provided remote patient care, the server system16 periodically receives a collected measures set 50 which is forwardedto the database module 51 for processing. The database module 51organizes the individual patent care records stored in the database 52and provides the facilities for efficiently storing and accessing thecollected measures sets 50 and patient data maintained in those records.An exemplary database schema for use in storing collected measures sets50 in a patient care record is described below, by way of example, withreference to FIG. 5. The database server 34 (shown in FIG. 2) performsthe functionality of the database module 51. Any type of databaseorganization could be utilized, including a flat file system,hierarchical database, relational database, or distributed database,such as provided by database vendors, such as Oracle Corporation,Redwood Shores, Calif.

The analysis module 53 analyzes the collected measures sets 50 stored inthe patient care records in the database 52. The analysis module 53makes an automated determination of patient wellness in the form of apatient status indicator 54. Collected measures sets 50 are periodicallyreceived from implantable medical devices and maintained by the databasemodule 51 in the database 52. Through the use of this collectedinformation, the analysis module 53 can continuously follow the medicalwell being of a patient and can recognize any trends in the collectedinformation that might warrant medical intervention. The analysis module53 compares individual measures and derived measures obtained from boththe care records for the individual patient and the care records for adisease specific group of patients or the patient population in general.The analytic operations performed by the analysis module 53 are furtherdescribed below with reference to FIG. 4. The application server 35(shown in FIG. 2) performs the functionality of the analysis module 53.

The feedback module 55 provides automated feedback to the individualpatient based, in part, on the patient status indicator 54. As describedabove, the feedback could be by electronic mail or by automated voicemail or facsimile. Preferably, the feedback is provided in a tieredmanner. In the described embodiment, four levels of automated feedbackare provided. At a first level, an interpretation of the patient statusindicator 54 is provided. At a second level, a notification of potentialmedical concern based on the patient status indicator 54 is provided.This feedback level could also be coupled with human contact byspecially trained technicians or medical personnel. At a third level,the notification of potential medical concern is forwarded to medicalpractitioners located in the patient's geographic area. Finally, at afourth level, a set of reprogramming instructions based on the patientstatus indicator 54 could be transmitted directly to the implantablemedical device to modify the programming instructions contained therein.As is customary in the medical arts, the basic tiered feedback schemewould be modified in the event of bona fide medical emergency. Theapplication server 35 (shown in FIG. 2) performs the functionality ofthe feedback module 55.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing the analysis module 53 of the serversystem 16 of FIG. 3. The analysis module 53 contains two functionalsubmodules: comparison module 62 and derivation module 63. The purposeof the comparison module 62 is to compare two or more individualmeasures, either collected or derived. The purpose of the derivationmodule 63 is to determine a derived measure based on one or morecollected measures which is then used by the comparison module 62. Forinstance, a new and improved indicator of impending heart failure couldbe derived based on the exemplary cardiac collected measures setdescribed with reference to FIG. 5. The analysis module 53 can operateeither in a batch mode of operation wherein patient status indicatorsare generated for a set of individual patients or in a dynamic modewherein a patient status indicator is generated on the fly for anindividual patient.

The comparison module 62 receives as inputs from the database 17 twoinput sets functionally defined as peer collected measures sets 60 andsibling collected measures sets 61, although in practice, the collectedmeasures sets are stored on a per sampling basis. Peer collectedmeasures sets 60 contain individual collected measures sets that allrelate to the same type of patient information, for instance, atrialelectrical activity, but which have been periodically collected overtime. Sibling collected measures sets 61 contain individual collectedmeasures sets that relate to different types of patient information, butwhich may have been collected at the same time or different times. Inpractice, the collected measures sets are not separately stored as“peer” and “sibling” measures. Rather, each individual patient carerecord stores multiple sets of sibling collected measures. Thedistinction between peer collected measures sets 60 and siblingcollected measures sets 61 is further described below with reference toFIG. 6.

The derivation module 63 determines derived measures sets 64 on anas-needed basis in response to requests from the comparison module 62.The derived measures 64 are determined by performing linear andnon-linear mathematical operations on selected peer measures 60 andsibling measures 61, as is known in the art.

FIG. 5 is a database schema showing, by way of example, the organizationof a cardiac patient care record stored 70 in the database 17 of thesystem 10 of FIG. 1. Only the information pertaining to collectedmeasures sets are shown. Each patient care record would also containnormal identifying and treatment profile information, as well as medicalhistory and other pertinent data (not shown). Each patient care recordstores a multitude of collected measures sets for an individual patient.Each individual set represents a recorded snapshot of telemeteredsignals data which was recorded, for instance, per heartbeat or binnedaverage basis by the implantable medical device 12. For example, for acardiac patient, the following information would be recorded as acollected measures set: atrial electrical activity 71, ventricularelectrical activity 72, time of day 73, activity level 74, cardiacoutput 75, oxygen level 76, cardiovascular pressure measures 77,pulmonary measures 78, interventions made by the implantable medicaldevice 78, and the relative success of any interventions made 80. Inaddition, the implantable medical device 12 would also communicatedevice specific information, including battery status 81 and programsettings 82. Other types of collected measures are possible. Inaddition, a well-documented set of derived measures can be determinedbased on the collected measures, as is known in the art.

FIG. 6 is a record view showing, by way of example, a set of partialcardiac patient care records stored in the database 17 of the system 10of FIG. 1. Three patient care records are shown for Patient 1, Patient2, and Patient 3. For each patent, three sets of measures are shown, X,Y, and Z. The measures are organized into sets with Set 0 representingsibling measures made at a reference time t=0. Similarly, Set n−2, Setn−1 and Set n each represent sibling measures made at later referencetimes t=n−2, t=n−1 and t=n, respectively.

For a given patient, for instance, Patient 1, all measures representingthe same type of patient information, such as measure X, are peermeasures. These are measures, which are monitored over time in adisease-matched peer group. All measures representing different types ofpatient information, such as measures X, Y, and Z, are sibling measures.These are measures which are also measured over time, but which mighthave medically significant meaning when compared to each other within asingle set. Each of the measures, X, Y, and Z, could be either collectedor derived measures.

The analysis module 53 (shown in FIG. 4) performs two basic forms ofcomparison. First, individual measures for a given patient can becompared to other individual measures for that same patient. Thesecomparisons might be peer-to-peer measures projected over time, forinstance, X_(n), X_(n−1), X_(n−2), . . . X₀, or sibling-to-siblingmeasures for a single snapshot, for instance, X_(n), Y_(n), and Z_(n),or projected over time, for instance, X_(n), Y_(n), Z_(n), X_(n−1),Y_(n−1), Z_(n−1), X_(n−2), Y_(n−2), Z_(n−2), . . . X₀, Y₀, Z₀. Second,individual measures for a given patient can be compared to otherindividual measures for a group of other patients sharing the samedisease-specific characteristics or to the patient population ingeneral. Again, these comparisons might be peer-to-peer measuresprojected over time, for instance, X_(n), X_(n′), X_(n″), X_(n−1′),X_(n−1″), X_(n−2), X_(n−2′), X_(n−2″) . . . X₀, X_(0′), X_(0″), orcomparing the individual patient's measures to an average from thegroup. Similarly, these comparisons might be sibling-to-sibling measuresfor single snapshots, for instance, X_(n), X_(n′), X_(n″), Y_(n),Y_(n′), Y_(n″), and Z_(n), Z_(n′), Z_(n″), or projected over time, forinstance, X_(n), X_(n′), X_(n″), Y_(n), Y_(n′), Y_(n″), Z_(n), Z_(n′),Z_(n″), X_(n−1), X_(n−1′), X_(n−1″), Y_(n−1), Y_(n−1′), Y_(n−1″),Z_(n−1), Z_(n−1′), Z_(n−1″), X_(n−2), X_(n−2′), X_(n−2″), Y_(n−2),Y_(n−2′), Y_(n−2″), Z_(n−2), Z_(n−2′), Z_(n−2″) . . . X₀, X_(0′),X_(0″), Y₀, Y_(0′), Y_(0″), and Z₀, Z_(0′), Z_(0″). Other forms ofcomparisons are feasible.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a method 90 for automated collectionand analysis of patient information retrieved from an implantablemedical device 12 for remote patient care in accordance with the presentinvention. The method 90 is implemented as a conventional computerprogram for execution by the server system 16 (shown in FIG. 1). As apreparatory step, the patient care records are organized in the database17 with a unique patient care record assigned to each individual patient(block 91). Next, the collected measures sets for an individual patientare retrieved from the implantable medical device 12 (block 92) using aprogrammer, interrogator, telemetered signals transceiver, and the like.The retrieved collected measures sets are sent, on a substantiallyregular basis, over the internetwork 15 or similar communications link(block 93) and periodically received by the server system 16 (block 94).The collected measures sets are stored into the patient care record inthe database 17 for that individual patient (block 95). One or more ofthe collected measures sets for that patient are analyzed (block 96), asfurther described below with reference to FIG. 8. Finally, feedbackbased on the analysis is sent to that patient over the internetwork 15as an email message, via telephone line as an automated voice mail orfacsimile message, or by similar feedback communications link (block97), as further described below with reference to FIG. 11.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing the routine for analyzing collectedmeasures sets 96 for use in the method of FIG. 7. The purpose of thisroutine is to make a determination of general patient wellness based oncomparisons and heuristic trends analyses of the measures, bothcollected and derived, in the patient care records in the database 17. Afirst collected measures set is selected from a patient care record inthe database 17 (block 100). If the measures comparison is to be made toother measures originating from the patient care record for the sameindividual patient (block 101), a second collected measures set isselected from that patient care record (block 102). Otherwise, a groupmeasures comparison is being made (block 101) and a second collectedmeasures set is selected from another patient care record in thedatabase 17 (block 103). Note the second collected measures set couldalso contain averaged measures for a group of disease specific patientsor for the patient population in general.

Next, if a sibling measures comparison is to be made (block 104), aroutine for comparing sibling collected measures sets is performed(block 105), as further described below with reference to FIG. 9.Similarly, if a peer measures comparison is to be made (block 106), aroutine for comparing sibling collected measures sets is performed(block 107), as further described below with reference to FIGS. 10A and10B.

Finally, a patient status indicator is generated (block 108). By way ofexample, cardiac output could ordinarily be approximately 5.0 liters perminute with a standard deviation of ±1.0. An actionable medicalphenomenon could occur when the cardiac output of a patient is ±3.0–4.0standard deviations out of the norm. A comparison of the cardiac outputmeasures 75 (shown in FIG. 5) for an individual patient against previouscardiac output measures 75 would establish the presence of any type ofdownward health trend as to the particular patient. A comparison of thecardiac output measures 75 of the particular patient to the cardiacoutput measures 75 of a group of patients would establish whether thepatient is trending out of the norm. From this type of analysis, theanalysis module 53 generates a patient status indicator 54 and othermetrics of patient wellness, as is known in the art.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the routine for comparing siblingcollected measures sets 105 for use in the routine of FIG. 8. Siblingmeasures originate from the patient care records for an individualpatient. The purpose of this routine is either to compare siblingderived measures to sibling derived measures (blocks 111–113) or siblingcollected measures to sibling collected measures (blocks 115–117). Thus,if derived measures are being compared (block 110), measures areselected from each collected measures set (block 111). First and secondderived measures are derived from the selected measures (block 112)using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4). The first and secondderived measures are then compared (block 113) using the comparisonmodule 62 (also shown in FIG. 4). The steps of selecting, determining,and comparing (blocks 111–113) are repeated until no further comparisonsare required (block 114), whereupon the routine returns.

If collected measures are being compared (block 110), measures areselected from each collected measures set (block 115). The first andsecond collected measures are then compared (block 116) using thecomparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4). The steps of selecting andcomparing (blocks 115–116) are repeated until no further comparisons arerequired (block 117), whereupon the routine returns.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a flow diagram showing the routine for comparingpeer collected measures sets 107 for use in the routine of FIG. 8. Peermeasures originate from patient care records for different patients,including groups of disease specific patients or the patient populationin general. The purpose of this routine is to compare peer derivedmeasures to peer derived measures (blocks 122–125), peer derivedmeasures to peer collected measures (blocks 126–129), peer collectedmeasures to peer derived measures (block 131–134), or peer collectedmeasures to peer collected measures (blocks 135–137). Thus, if the firstmeasure being compared is a derived measure (block 120) and the secondmeasure being compared is also a derived measure (block 121), measuresare selected from each collected measures set (block 122). First andsecond derived measures are derived from the selected measures (block123) using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4). The first andsecond derived measures are then compared (block 124) using thecomparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4). The steps of selecting,determining, and comparing (blocks 122–124) are repeated until nofurther comparisons are required (block 115), whereupon the routinereturns.

If the first measure being compared is a derived measure (block 120) butthe second measure being compared is a collected measure (block 121), afirst measure is selected from the first collected measures set (block126). A first derived measure is derived from the first selected measure(block 127) using the derivation module 63 (shown in FIG. 4). The firstderived and second collected measures are then compared (block 128)using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4). The steps ofselecting, determining, and comparing (blocks 126–128) are repeateduntil no further comparisons are required (block 129), whereupon theroutine returns.

If the first measure being compared is a collected measure (block 120)but the second measure being compared is a derived measure (block 130),a second measure is selected from the second collected measures set(block 131). A second derived measure is derived from the secondselected measure (block 132) using the derivation module 63 (shown inFIG. 4). The first collected and second derived measures are thencompared (block 133) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG.4). The steps of selecting, determining, and comparing (blocks 131–133)are repeated until no further comparisons are required (block 134),whereupon the routine returns.

If the first measure being compared is a collected measure (block 120)and the second measure being compared is also a collected measure (block130), measures are selected from each collected measures set (block135). The first and second collected measures are then compared (block136) using the comparison module 62 (also shown in FIG. 4). The steps ofselecting and comparing (blocks 135–136) are repeated until no furthercomparisons are required (block 137), whereupon the routine returns.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing the routine for providing feedback 97for use in the method of FIG. 7. The purpose of this routine is toprovide tiered feedback based on the patient status indicator. Fourlevels of feedback are provided with increasing levels of patientinvolvement and medical care intervention. At a first level (block 150),an interpretation of the patient status indicator 54, preferably phrasedin lay terminology, and related health care information is sent to theindividual patient (block 151) using the feedback module 55 (shown inFIG. 3). At a second level (block 152), a notification of potentialmedical concern, based on the analysis and heuristic trends analysis, issent to the individual patient (block 153) using the feedback module 55.At a third level (block 154), the notification of potential medicalconcern is forwarded to the physician responsible for the individualpatient or similar health care professionals (block 155) using thefeedback module 55. Finally, at a fourth level (block 156),reprogramming instructions are sent to the implantable medical device 12(block 157) using the feedback module 55.

Therefore, through the use of the collected measures sets, the presentinvention makes possible immediate access to expert medical care at anytime and in any place. For example, after establishing and registeringfor each patient an appropriate baseline set of measures, the databaseserver could contain a virtually up-to-date patient history, which isavailable to medical providers for the remote diagnosis and preventionof serious illness regardless of the relative location of the patient ortime of day.

Moreover, the gathering and storage of multiple sets of critical patientinformation obtained on a routine basis makes possible treatmentmethodologies based on an algorithmic analysis of the collected datasets. Each successive introduction of a new collected measures set intothe database server would help to continually improve the accuracy andeffectiveness of the algorithms used. In addition, the present inventionpotentially enables the detection, prevention, and cure of previouslyunknown forms of disorders based on a trends analysis and by across-referencing approach to create continuously improving peer-groupreference databases.

Finally, the present invention makes possible the provision of tieredpatient feedback based on the automated analysis of the collectedmeasures sets. This type of feedback system is suitable for use in, forexample, a subscription based health care service. At a basic level,informational feedback can be provided by way of a simple interpretationof the collected data. The feedback could be built up to provide agradated response to the patient, for example, to notify the patientthat he or she is trending into a potential trouble zone. Humaninteraction could be introduced, both by remotely situated and localmedical practitioners. Finally, the feedback could include directinterventive measures, such as remotely reprogramming a patient's IPG.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described asreferenced to the embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art willunderstand that the foregoing and other changes in form and detail maybe made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A system for providing collection and analysis of patient informationfor use in automated patient care, comprising: an implantable medicaldevice directly measuring and recording individual patient informationon a substantially continuous basis, comprising a recordation modulecollecting physiological measures relating to the individual patientinformation; a collection module receiving the physiological measurescollected at substantially the same time as a set of physiologicalmeasures directly from the implantable medical device; a databasestating the physiological measures set into a patient care record for anindividual patient; an analysis module retrieving a plurality of thephysiological measures in the patient care record for the individualpatient from the database and analyzing the retrieved physiologicalmeasures relative to another plurality of the physiological measures todetermine a patient status indicator of patient wellness, to recognize atrend in patient well being for the individual patient, and to detenninewhether medical intervention is necessary; and a feedback module sendingautomated feedback directly to the individual patient based on thepatient status indicator.
 2. A system according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a database module logically grouping a plurality of thephysiological measures, each relating to a same type of individualpatient infonnation, into a plurality of peer measures sets; and acomparison module comparing, during analysis, a plurality of thephysiological measures selected from one such peer measures set to afurther plurality of the physiological measures selected from anothersuch peer measures set.
 3. A system according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a database module logically grouping a plurality of thephysiological measures, each relating to a different type of individualpatient information, into a plurality of sibling measures sets; and acomparison module comparing, during analysis, a plurality of thephysiological measures selected from one such sibling measures set to afurther plurality of the physiological measures selected from anothersuch sibling measures set.
 4. A system according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a database module logically grouping a plurality of thephysiological measures, each relating to a same type of individualpatient information, into a plurality of peer measures sets andlogically grouping a plurality of the physiological measures, eachrelating to a different type of individual patient information, into aplurality of sibling measures sets; and a comparison module comparing,during analysis, a plurality of the physiological measures selected fromone such peer measures set to a further plurality of the physiologicalmeasures selected from one such sibling measures set.
 5. A systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a database module selecting aplurality of collected physiological measures, each relating toindividual patient information collected by the implantable medicaldevice; and a comparison module comparing, during analysis, a pluralityof the collected physiological measures to a further plurality of thecollected physiological measures.
 6. A system according to claim 1,further comprising: a derivation module deriving a plurality of derivedphysiological measures from the physiological measures; and a comparisonmodule comparing, during analysis, a plurality of the derivedphysiological measures to a further plurality of the derivedphysiological measures.
 7. A system according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a database module selecting a plurality of the physiologicalmeasures, each relating to collected individual patient information; aderivation module deriving a plurality of derived physiological measuresfrom the physiological measures; and a comparison module comparing,during analysis, a plurality of the collected physiological measures toa further plurality of the derived physiological measures.
 8. A systemaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a database module retrievingthe plurality of physiological measures from one of a patient carerecord for an individual patient, a peer group, and an overall patientpopulation.
 9. A system according to claim 1, further comprising: atiered feedback module providing the feedback from the patient statusindicator as tiered feedback, comprising: at a first level of feedback,communicating an interpretation of the patient status indicator; at asecond level of feedback, conmunicating a notification of potentialmedical concern based on the patient status indicator; at a third levelof feedback, communicating a notification of potential medical concernbased on the patient status indicator to medical personnel; and at afourth level of feedback, communicating a set of reprogramminginstructions based on the patient status indicator to the implantablemedical device.
 10. A method for providing collection and analysis ofpatient information for use in automated patient care, comprising:directly measuring and recording individual patient information throughan implantable medical device on a substantially continuous basis,comprising collecting physiological measures relating to the individualpatient information; receiving the physiological measures collected atsubstantially the same time as a set of physiological measures directlyfrom the implantable medical device; storing the physiological measuresset into a patient care record for an individual patient into adatabase; retrieving a plurality of the physiological measures in thepatient care record for the individual patient from the database;analyzing the retrieved physiological measures relative to anotherplurality of the physiological measures to determine a patient statusindicator of patient wellness, to recognize a trend in patient wellbeing for the individual patient, and to determine whether medicalintervention is necessary; and sending automated feedback directly tothe individual patient based on the patient status indicator.
 11. Amethod according to claim 10, further comprising: logically grouping aplurality of the physiological measures, each relating to a same type ofindividual patient information, into a plurality of peer measures sets;and comparing, during analysis, a plurality of the physiologicalmeasures selected from one such peer measures set to a further pluralityof the physiological measures selected from another such peer measuresset.
 12. A method according to claim 10, further comprising: logicallygrouping a plurality of the physiological measures, each relating to adifferent type of individual patient information, into a plurality ofsibling measures sets; and comparing, during analysis, a plurality ofthe physiological measures selected from one such sibling measures setto a further plurality of the physiological measures selected fromanother such sibling measures set.
 13. A method according to claim 10,further comprising: logically grouping a plurality of the physiologicalmeasures, each relating to a same type of individual patientinformation, into a plurality of peer measures sets; logically groupinga plurality of the physiological measures, each relating to a differenttype of individual patient information, into a plurality of siblingmeasures sets; and comparing, during analysis, a plurality of thephysiological measures selected from one such peer measures set to afurther plurality of the physiological measures selected from one suchsibling measures set.
 14. A method according to claim 10, furthercomprising: selecting a plurality of collected physiological measures,each relating to individual patient information collected by theimplantable medical device; and comparing, during analysis, a pluralityof the collected physiological measures to a further plurality of thecollected physiological measures.
 15. A method according to claim 10,further comprising: deriving a plurality of derived physiologicalmeasures from the physiological measures; and comparing, duringanalysis, a plurality of the derived physiological measures to a furtherplurality of the derived physiological measures.
 16. A method accordingto claim 10, further comprising: selecting a plurality of thephysiological measures, each relating to collected individual patientinformation; deriving a plurality of derived physiological measures fromthe physiological measures; and comparing, during analysis, a pluralityof the collected physiological measures to a further plurality of thederived physiological measures.
 17. A method according to claim 10,further comprising: retrieving the plurality of physiological measuresfrom one of a patient care record for an individual patient a peergroup, and an overall patient population.
 18. A method according toclaim 10, further comprising: providing the feedback from the patientstatus indicator as tiered feedback, comprising: at a first level offeedback, communicating an interpretation of the patient statusindicator; at a second level of feedback, communicating a notificationof potential medical concern based on to patient status indicator; at athird level of feedback, communicating a notification of potentialmedical concern based on the patient status indicator to medicalpersonnel; and at a fourth level of feedback, communicating a set ofreprogramming instructions based on the patient status indicator to theimplantable medical device.
 19. A computer-readable storage medium for adevice holding code for performing the method according to claims 10,11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or
 18. 20. A system for analyzing a patientstatus for use in automated patient care, comprising: an implantablemedical device directly measuring and recording individual patientinformation on a substantially continuous basis; a database moduledirectly receiving a set of physiological measures relating to theindividual patient information; a database storing the physiologicalmeasures set into a patient care record for an individual patient; ananalysis module analyzing a plurality of the physiological measures inthe physiological measures set relative to another plurality of thephysiological measures to determine a patient status indicator ofpatient wellness, to recognize a trend in patient well being for theindividual patient, and to determine whether medical intervention isnecessary; and a feedback module sending automated feedback directly tothe individual patient based on the patient status indicator.
 21. Asystem according to claim 20, further comprising: a selection moduleselecting a peer measures set comprising a plurality of thephysiological measures, each relating to a same type of individualpatient information and selecting a sibling measures set comprising aplurality of the physiological measures, each relating to a differenttype of individual patient information; and a comparison modulecomparing, during analysis, a plurality of the physiological measuresselected from at least one of the peer measures set and the siblingmeasures set to a further plurality of the physiological measuresselected from at least one of the peer measures set and the siblingmeasures set.
 22. A system according to claim 20, further comprising: aselection module selecting a plurality of the physiological measures,each relating to collected individual patient information; a derivationmodule deriving a plurality of derived physiological measures from thephysiological measures; and a comparison module comparing, duringanalysis, a plurality of the physiological measures selected from atleast one of the collected physiological measures and the derivedphysiological measures to a further plurality of the physiologicalmeasures selected from at least one of the collected physiologicalmeasures and the derived physiological measures.
 23. A system accordingto claim 20, further comprising: a retrieval module retrieving, duringanalysis, the plurality of physiological measures for one of anindividual patient, a peer group, and an overall patient population. 24.A method for analyzing a patient status for use in automated patientcare, comprising: directly measuring and recording individual patientinformation through an implantable medical device on a substantiallycontinuous basis; directly receiving a set of physiological measuresrelating to the individual patient information; storing thephysiological measures set into a patient care record for an individualpatient into a database; analyzing a plurality of the physiologicalmeasures in the physiological measures set relative to another pluralityof the physiological measures to determine a patient status indicator ofpatient wellness, to recognize a trend in patient well being for theindividual patient, and to determine whether medical intervention isnecessary; and sending automated feedback directly to the individualpatient based on the patient status indicator.
 25. A method according toclaim 24, further comprising: selecting a peer measures set comprising aplurality of the physiological measures, each relating to a same type ofindividual patient information; selecting a sibling measures setcomprising a plurality of the physiological measures, each relating to adifferent type of individual patient information; and comparing, duringanalysis, a plurality of the physiological measures selected from atleast one of the peer measures set and tbe sibling measures set to afurther plurality of the physiological measures selected from at leastone of the peer measures set and the sibling measures set.
 26. A methodaccording to claim 24, further comprising: selecting a plurality of thephysiological measures, each relating to collected individual patientinformation; deriving a plurality of derived physiological measures fromthe physiological measures; and comparing, during analysis, a pluralityof the physiological measures selected from at least one of thecollected physiological measures and the derived physiological measuresto a further plurality of the pbysiological measures selected from atleast one of the collected physiological measures and the derivedphysiological measures.
 27. A method according to claim 24, furthercomprising: retrieving, during analysis, the plurality of physiologicalmeasures for one of an individual patient, a peer group, and an overallpatient population.
 28. A computer-readable storage medium for a deviceholding code for performing the method according to claims 24, 25, 26,or 27.